Effects of a gluten-free hydrolyzed diet in dogs with paroxysmal dyskinesia: a prospective cohort study.
9 affiliations
- 1Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
- 2Veterinaria Corlazzoli, Rome, Italy.
- 3Neurovet, Legnano, Milan, Italy.
- 4Clinica Veterinaria Pedrani, Diagnostica Piccoli Animali Srl, Zugliano, Italy.
- 5Veterinary Neurological Center `La Fenice,' Selargius, Italy.
- 6Valdinievole Veterinary Clinic, Monsummano Terme, Italy.
- 7Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
- 8AniCura Clinica Veterinaria Arcella, Padova, Italy.
- 9PalermoVet Veterinary Diagnostic Center, Palermo, Italy.
Abstract
Background
Paroxysmal dyskinesia (PD) is an episodic movement disorder in dogs. Gluten-sensitive etiology has been suggested, but prospective studies in different breeds are lacking.Hypothesis/objectives
Investigate whether a gluten-free hydrolyzed diet (GFHD) decreases PD episode frequency and gastrointestinal (GI) signs, and evaluate associations with serum anti-gliadin peptide immunoglobulin G (AGA IgG) and anti-transglutaminase-2 immunoglobulin A (TG-2 IgA) titers.Animals
Twenty-three client-owned dogs with PD.Methods
Prospective cohort study with 3 time points: baseline (T0), 90 days (T1), and 180 days (T2). Dogs were fed a GFHD. Episode frequency, GI signs and AGA IgG and TG-2 IgA titers were assessed at each time point. Response to GFHD was classified as excellent (episode disappearance), good (≥50% decrease), fairly good (<50% decrease), or poor (no change or increase).Results
Median number of episodes decreased from 6 (range, 2-60) at T0 to 2 (range, 0-10) at T2 (P = .0003). At T2, 17/23 dogs were responders (5 excellent, 12 good). Gastrointestinal signs were present in 15/23 dogs at T0 and in 6/23 dogs at T2, with significant decreases in vomiting and diarrhea (P = .01). No significant correlation was found between episode frequency and AGA IgG or TG-2 IgA titers at any time point (P > .1). Antibody results did not significantly change between T0 and T2.Conclusions and clinical importance
The GFHD was associated with a significant decrease in PD frequency and GI signs in most dogs. The AGA IgG and TG-2 IgA titers were not predictive of dietary response, suggesting limited value as biomarkers.
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BibTeX
@article{okonji2026effects,
title = {{Effects of a gluten-free hydrolyzed diet in dogs with paroxysmal dyskinesia: a prospective cohort study.}},
author = {Samuel Okonji and Francesca Del Baldo and Elisa Garuti and Carla G Vecchiato and Alessandro Di Carlo and Gaia Costantini and Alberto Cauduro and Andrea Di Paola and Cristian Falzone and Antonella Gallucci and Ilaria Tartari and Massimo Baroni and Federica Poli and Ezio Bianchi and Valentina Buffagni and Alessia Valentini and Teresa Gagliardo and Gualtiero Gandini},
journal = {Journal of veterinary internal medicine},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1093/jvimsj/aalag255},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42949439},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of a gluten-free hydrolyzed diet in dogs with paroxysmal dyskinesia: a prospective cohort study.
AU - Samuel Okonji
AU - Francesca Del Baldo
AU - Elisa Garuti
AU - Carla G Vecchiato
AU - Alessandro Di Carlo
AU - Gaia Costantini
AU - Alberto Cauduro
AU - Andrea Di Paola
AU - Cristian Falzone
AU - Antonella Gallucci
AU - Ilaria Tartari
AU - Massimo Baroni
AU - Federica Poli
AU - Ezio Bianchi
AU - Valentina Buffagni
AU - Alessia Valentini
AU - Teresa Gagliardo
AU - Gualtiero Gandini
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Journal of veterinary internal medicine
DO - 10.1093/jvimsj/aalag255
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42949439
AB - Background Paroxysmal dyskinesia (PD) is an episodic movement disorder in dogs. Gluten-sensitive etiology has been suggested, but prospective studies in different breeds are lacking.Hypothesis/objectives Investigate whether a gluten-free hydrolyzed diet (GFHD) decreases PD episode frequency and gastrointestinal (GI) signs, and evaluate associations with serum anti-gliadin peptide immunoglobulin G (AGA IgG) and anti-transglutaminase-2 immunoglobulin A (TG-2 IgA) titers.Animals Twenty-three client-owned dogs with PD.Methods Prospective cohort study with 3 time points: baseline (T0), 90 days (T1), and 180 days (T2). Dogs were fed a GFHD. Episode frequency, GI signs and AGA IgG and TG-2 IgA titers were assessed at each time point. Response to GFHD was classified as excellent (episode disappearance), good (≥50% decrease), fairly good (<50% decrease), or poor (no change or increase).Results Median number of episodes decreased from 6 (range, 2-60) at T0 to 2 (range, 0-10) at T2 (P = .0003). At T2, 17/23 dogs were responders (5 excellent, 12 good). Gastrointestinal signs were present in 15/23 dogs at T0 and in 6/23 dogs at T2, with significant decreases in vomiting and diarrhea (P = .01). No significant correlation was found between episode frequency and AGA IgG or TG-2 IgA titers at any time point (P > .1). Antibody results did not significantly change between T0 and T2.Conclusions and clinical importance The GFHD was associated with a significant decrease in PD frequency and GI signs in most dogs. The AGA IgG and TG-2 IgA titers were not predictive of dietary response, suggesting limited value as biomarkers.
SN - 0891-6640
SN - 1939-1676
ER -